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Accounting - Advanced

Overview
A popular postgraduate programme for high calibre accounting graduates which provides full CAP 2 exemptions and excellent employment prospects.

Summary
This popular vocational programme is designed to meet the needs of accounting graduates who wish to pursue a career as an Irish Chartered Accountant. It is an academically challenging programme which attracts high calibre accounting graduates. It allows students to combine a postgraduate master's qualification with study for professional examinations.

About
This well established and popular 'dual award' programme is designed to meet the needs of accounting graduates who wish to pursue a career as an Irish Chartered Accountant. It is an academically challenging one-year taught programme which encompasses both professional and conceptual material, enabling accounting graduates to study for a master's award and at the same time gain exemptions from professional examinations of Chartered Accountants Ireland. It is one of the leading programmes of its kind in Ireland and is the result of close collaboration with CAI, and the in-depth experience and expertise of the course team.

It is an aim of the programme to develop the high level of skills, understanding and leadership capability considered necessary for embarking on a career as a Chartered Accountant, and to obtain a deeper understanding of the contemporary problems and issues faced by accounting and business professionals. The master's dissertation element of the programme will enable students to develop their research and analytical skills further by completing a piece of primary research.

A highly desirable feature of the programme is the level of sponsorship provided by employers. Students being sponsored on the programme receive payment of tuition fees, generous book allowances and in some instances loans and laptops.

Recent employers and sponsors of graduates include ASM, BDO, Deloitte, EY, FPM, KPMG, Moore Stephens, PwC, RSM McClure Watters.

Entry requirements

Entry conditions
We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University's General Entrance Requirements. For general entrance requirements go to:
https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/entrance-requirements

Entry Requirements
Entrants will normally possess a good second class Honours degree (currently 2.1) in an accounting discipline and must also be exempt from all CAP 1 subjects of Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Students who have successfully completed the Graduate Diploma in Accounting (currently with commendation) and gained full CAP 1 exemptions are also invited to apply. English language competence: minimum IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent.

Prior to admission to this course, students must provide the university with a certificate of exemption from Chartered Accountants Ireland. Exemption Application Forms are available on the web at www.charteredaccountants.ie and the deadline for exemption applications is 31 July.

English Language Requirements
English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Exemptions and transferability
This programme grants successful graduates exemptions from all CAP 2 level subjects of Chartered Accountants Ireland and permits students to progress directly to the final admitting examinations (FAE) of Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Duration

Attendance
Over the course of one academic year, lectures and seminars are scheduled during the University working day, and typically spread over four days per week during each semester. Typically 16 contact hours per week with the remainder of the time allocated to independent study.

Careers or further progression

Career Options
Employment prospects for students completing this programme are excellent, with typically close to 100% of students securing training contracts with Chartered Accountancy firms.

The programme is highly regarded by employers, with many of the large and medium sized chartered accountancy firms sponsoring students on the programme. See Fees & Funding.

On successful completion of the programme, students not only gain a postgraduate qualification but also full CAP2 exemptions. With pass rates typically at 100%, students only have to complete the final FAE examinations in order to qualify as a Chartered Accountant.

The goal of the programme is to produce high-calibre graduates who will progress quickly through their professional training and advance to senior management positions within the accountancy profession.

Career opportunities for Chartered Accountants have never been better. Currently, two thirds of CAI members are working in industry, business or finance. Many leading companies in Ireland have a Chartered Accountant as their Financial Director or Chief Executive. A third of members are currently working in practice. International recognition brings global mobility for members with over 3,500 members working outside Ireland (e.g. Australia, USA, Canada, Caribbean).

Professional recognition
Chartered Accountants Ireland
Accredited by Chartered Accountants Ireland for the purpose of exemption from some professional exams.

Further enquiries

Course Director: Helen McGuffin
Lecturer in Accounting
T: +44 (0)28 9036 8716
E: hm.mcguffin@ulster.ac.uk

Application date

Applications to our postgraduate courses are made through the University's online application system. 
The closing date for applications is the end of August.